Eve Arnold
Eve Arnold began photographing while working at a photo-finishing plant in
New York City in 1946. In 1954, Arnold's fresh quality and intelligent choice of
subject matter brought her to the attention of Robert Capa, the head of Magnum
Photos, the prestigious international cooperative of photographers. Capa invited
her to join the group, and she became its first American woman member. Her
mastery of the colour processes and techniques popular in the 50s was extensive
and assured, although she worked for preference in black-and-white.
Arnold became a star photographer for Life magazine during its heyday, capturing public figures such as Senator Joseph McCarthy and General Eisenhower at revealingly unguarded moments. She had a special affinity with Marilyn Monroe, whom she met when both were relatively unknown. "She was going places but she hadn't arrived," Arnold recalled. "It became a bond between us... Marilyn was very important in my career. I think I was helpful in hers."
She was based in America during the 1950s and came to England in 1962 to put her son to school at Bedales. Except for a six year hiatus, (when she worked in America and China to prepare a book on each of those countries), Eve Arnold has been based in Britain.
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